Dietary advice for diabetics

Dietary advice for diabetics

Diabetes is a disease in which blood sugar is too high. Our diet has a major impact on blood sugar, and it is therefore important for diabetics to have a healthy and regular diet.

What is diabetes?

Diabetes mellitus ("sugar disease") is a chronic disease characterized by too high blood sugar. The disease is divided into type 1 diabetes, which is caused by a lack of insulin, and type 2 diabetes, which is caused by insufficient insulin production or the insulin not working as it should. The dietary advice is for both types of diabetes, but it can be different what should be the main focus.

Dietary advice for diabetics

Diet and exercise have an impact on the regulation of blood sugar and the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. A healthy diet is an important part of diabetes self-treatment and can prevent or delay any worsening of diabetes. Many people with type 2 diabetes can regulate their blood sugar with a healthy diet alone.

Good dietary advice:

• Have a healthy and varied diet.

• Eat regularly, preferably three or four main meals and a maximum of three snacks daily.

• Choose coarse and fibre-rich cereal products.

• Eat at least three portions of vegetables and two portions of fruit/berry daily.

• Eat fatty and lean fish regularly, both as a side dish and dinner.

• Choose lean meat and dairy products.

• Drink water as a thirst quencher.

• Choose soft vegetable margarine or oil rather than hard margarine or butter.

• Limit your intake of saturated fat in the form of fatty dairy products and meat products (fast food).

• Limit your intake of salt and sugar.

The plate model

The plate model is a good starting point for healthy eating. Half the plate should be vegetables, a quarter rice, whole grain pasta or potato and the last quarter meat, poultry or fish.

Can you eat sugar when you have diabetes?

Diabetics with regulated blood sugar can eat sugary food, but it is recommended to limit sugar intake to avoid large fluctuations in blood sugar and to avoid having to inject a lot of insulin. For example, drinks with a lot of sugar such as soda, juice and juice are not recommended, as they cause a rapid rise in blood sugar and increase the risk of weight gain and obesity.

Sweeteners

It is important to be aware that certain sweeteners (for example sorbitol and xylitol) and fructose can affect blood sugar. Aspartame, saccharin and sucralose are examples of sweeteners that do not affect blood sugar.

Can you drink alcohol when you have diabetes?

Diabetics should be careful about drinking alcohol, as alcohol affects blood sugar. Measure your blood sugar more often when you drink alcohol, inform those you are with that you have diabetes and consider whether you need to eat a little extra.

It is the liver that takes care of keeping the blood sugar up during fasting. When the liver has to burn alcohol at the same time, the ability to produce sugar will be reduced and blood sugar may therefore be lower than usual. Remember to make those you are with aware that you have diabetes, as an insulin sensation can easily be mistaken for a strong intoxication.

Sources:

The Directorate of Health, The Diabetes Association, The Diabetes handbook by Svein Vaaler (2004), Helsenett, The Health Library.